MUNSTER DIRECTOR OF rugby Rassie Erasmus is hoping for good news on flanker Jack O’Donoghue who was stretchered off after being knocked out during Munster’s bonus point win over Edinburgh yesterday.
Munster lost their in-form Waterford back-row after 13 minutes of this Thomond Park win, following the blow he took to his neck at a ruck.
Edinburgh lock Fraser McKenzie was sin binned for the shoulder charge, which was deemed to be foul play by referee Ben Whitehouse, but Erasmus was happy to report that O’Donoghue – who has started all four of Munster’s Pro12 games this season – was back on his feet after a trip to hospital in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
“It looks okay. He went to hospital. I’m not sure of the results, he is sitting in the changing room. He is very sore and stiff. I guess it can’t be too serious if he is back in the changing room again,” said a relieved Erasmus.
“It was his neck, I’m not sure how much of concussion was involved. Neck and head, you have to be very careful when it comes to that.”
As it turned out the yellow card for the Edinburgh player was not a serious blow to their team as Chris Dean’s try gave Alan Solomons’ side the lead during that ten-minute period.
But Erasmus feels dangerous play like that must be punished to avoid more serious injuries in the game.
“It’s foul play and a guy got knocked out. If we allow that to happen then a lot of guys will get knocked out,” said Munster’s director of rugby.
“The referee is there in the middle of the pitch, he sees it on the big screen and it is very tough to make a decision.
“The TMO, it’s tough to see did he bind with his arms, didn’t he bind with his arms. We shouldn’t rely on the opposition’s foul play to play well, so I’ll leave that to the TMO and those guys to decide that.”
It looked a clear-cut decision to sin-bin the Edinburgh lock, but the visitors’ coach was undecided about the severity of McKenzie’s infringement.
“A major fact was the two yellow cards. I’ve got to have a look at them more carefully, the one against Fraser, I’m not sure about that. I have to look at it carefully. We ended up playing for 20 of the 80 minutes for 14 players as well.
“Sadly in that second-half we had two real bad slip tackles. Individual tackle errors of players. And that let them in for 14 points. But I thought in the circumstance of the yellow card and the problem that we had at tighthead today, I thought that was a gutsy performance.”
With their scrum well on top Munster took the lead by half-time as Conor Murray twice benefited from some great work by the front eight, while further tries from replacement Conor Oliver and Dave O’Callaghan wrapped up the victory.
Injuries to O’Callaghan (shoulder), Oliver (ankle) and Jean Kleyn (ankle), added to Donnacha Ryan’s illness means the Munster management will be keen for Monday’s injury updates, but there was plenty of positives from this mostly dominant display.
Another Thomond Park occasion against a much improved Zebre next Saturday should provide the home side with the chance of a second home win of the season, but at the moment they will be delighted to sit in fifth place, level on points with Leinster, and just three behind unbeaten leaders Ulster.
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